Davies joins City but Parkinson loses duo

AN EVENTFUL day at Valley Parade saw Bradford City break their signing duck for the summer as hopes of retaining two of last term’s FA Cup heroes ended following a failure to agree new contracts.

Steven Davies, who finished last season on loan at Sheffield United, has become manager Phil Parkinson’s first capture of the close season after the Blackpool striker agreed a one-year contract.

Blackburn Rovers winger Josh Main is expected to double the number of new arrivals at Bradford today, but two players who will not be at the League One club next season are Jon Stead and Andrew Davies after protracted talks failed to bring agreement on new contracts.

Davies has opted to join Scottish club Ross County.

Alfie Mawson, believed to have been on Parkinson’s radar, has decided to sign for Barnsley from Brentford, while Gary MacKenzie – who had a loan spell with Bradford last term– has moved to Doncaster Rovers.

In the Championship, Leeds United are today expected to pip Wolverhampton Wanderers to the signing of Leicester City striker Chris Wood.

The Elland Road club – who will be shown live on Sky four times in the opening three weeks after the home games against Burnley (August 8) and Sheffield Wednesday (August 22) plus the August 29 trip to Derby County were yesterday selected for broadcast – had a seven-figure offer accepted last week.

Other fixtures to be shown include Hull City’s trip to Wolves on August 16, Rotherham versus Burnley on October 2 and Huddersfield’s visit to Molineux the following day.

Wednesday have signed Braga defender Vincent Sasso on loan for the season and agreed a new one-year contract extension with captain Glenn Loovens.